Improvement in rotary engines



Ivm-ll... :lill-uil Patented Aug. l5, 1876.

A.c.sPEER. y

ROTARY" ENGINES.

Nm. FHDO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, Q C.

UNITED' STATES PATENT EEICE.

ABRAM O. SPEER, OF HART, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,112, dated August 15, 1876 application tiled June 26, 1876.

To all whom z't-'may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM C. SPEEE, of Hart, in the county of Oceana and State of Michigan, have invented certain Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that in the sameis contained a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of rotary engines in which a series of pistons or heads secured together and to a shaft are made to revolve Within a,stationary cylindrical casing, iu either a forward or backward direction, and in which are combined the elements of a steamengine, liquid motor, and steam-pump, as hereinafter fully described.

In the description of my invention which follows due reference must be had to the accompanying dravv'ing, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of my improved rotary engine; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 3, a plan of the invention, and Fig. 4 a sectional view of a part of the same.

Similar letters ofreference indicate simiilar parts in-all the gures.

A is the stationary cylindrical casing of the engine, and B the revolving pistons secured to the main shaft B,and together at a. The pistons B are either made solid or with arms extending from central hubs to the circular shells or rims forming the bodies of the pistons.

The spaces G existing between the body part of the pistons and the cylindrical casing correspond in certainrespects with the cylinders of ordinary reciprocating engines, and are supplied with steam or water in the operation of the engine. D D are stationary abutments, which project from the cylindrical ca'sing and come 4in contact with the bodies of the pistons. The abutment is stationary at all timers, forming apart of the cylindrical casing A, and-in this respect differs from sirnilar abutments in other rotary engines having a rotating movement-around the common center. E E are rotating winged abutments, adapted to revolve, under certain conditions, upon the shaftb but, when stationary, as far as any movelnent independently ofthe said shaft is concerned, they are held by means of the springs c partially embedded in grooves in the followers cl.

The followers d are provided with packing-rings e, which, in connection with the glands f, serve to form close joints and prevent leakage from the cylinders. F is the valve-chest, secured tothe outside of the casing A, in which the reversing and expansion valves, represented respectively by G and H, and hereinafter described, perform their functions.

The induction and eduction ports (represented by g) extend from the valve-chest F to the interior of the cylinders, and are covered in the valve-chest by the reversingvalves G. The ports in the reversing-valve of either cylinder are used as both steam and exhaust passages, and are so arranged with reference to the induction and eduction ports in the cylinder directly below it, and the expansion-valve H, as to allow of only one port being exposed in the chest at one time, the other being in communication with the exhaust-opening g in the expansion-valve. By this arrangement a central position of the reversing-valve causes both ports therein to be `covered by the expansion-valve, in whatever position the said expansion-valve may be placed, and the engine to be stopped. rlhe reversing-valve stems are coupled together on the outside of the valve-chest by a yoke, h, which is operated by means of a lever, i. The lever i also operates the throttle or steamvalve through the medium of a rod, k, and arm k.

The throttle-valve is so placed within its shell or case that when the lever i is in its central position steam is shut oli' from the chest, while in either extreme position communication therewith is opened, and steam admitted to the valve-chest, and through the reversing-valves to the cylinders. The expansion-valves are actuated from the main shaft B through the medium of eccentricsl and rods m.

The position of the eccentrics and the length of the expansion-valves determine the point at which the steam is out oi' from the cylinders and expansion commences. K is a valve adapted to slide in a partition, K', in the valve-chest F, for the purpose of controlling the steam and exhaust passages, represented respectively by n and o in the said partition, in order that one cylinder and attachlnents may be used as a pump While the other is heilig' employed as a steam or other motor. L is the main exhaust-pipe connected to the side of the valve-chest.

Parts of the invention not yet alluded to will be described, and their uses fully set forth, in the description of the operation of my improved rotary engine, which follows: Supposing the parts of the engine shown in sectional delineation in Fig. 1 to occupy the relative positions indicated therein: steam from the valvechest passes through the exposed port in the reversing-valve and the corresponding port in the casing to the cylinder, where it is contined between the rotating and stationary abutments, and causes the revolution of the piston in the direction shown by the arrows.

The revolution of the piston in the above direction continues until the rotating abutment gains the position indicated in dotted lines, when the steam is exhausted through the other port in the casing, and through or under the expansion-valve H to the main exhaust-pipe L.

It will be understood that during the circular stroke of the piston, as described, the steam passing to the cylinder was cut oli` by the expansion-valve at a certain point, and the remaining portion of the stroke performed by the expansive force of the steam inclosed within the cylinder.

At the termination of the stroke of the piston, and after the exhaust is opened, the momentum of the piston is utilized to carry the rotating abutment past the station ary one, the said rotating abutment, in this operation, performing a quarter revolution.

As before alluded to, the rotating abutment is held, during the major portion of the circular stroke of the piston, by a spring, c, partially embedded in a groove in the follower d. The spring as it approaches the stationary Aabutment is depressed, thereby releasing the rotating abutment, and allowing the same to be turned, as described. After the rotating abutment has passed the staticnary one, it is again secured by the spring c. as before.

` The reversal of the engine is obtained by simply changing the position of the reversing-valve, thereby adapting the port therein-before used as the induction one-for the exhaust or release of the steam from the cylinder.

,To use a part of my engine as a pump for the extinguishment ot' lines and other purposes, the steam and exhaust openings 'n and o, in the partition K', are closed by means of the valve K, the plugs or caps M and N removed, and the supply and delivery pipes or hose attached to .the openings exposed by the removal of the plugs. These alterations being completed, the engine is divided into two distinct parts-viz., the motor and the pump.

AWhen both cylinders are employed, or the entire engine is used as a motor, the part ofv the stroke of either engine between the opening of the exhaust on one side ot' the stationary abutment, and the admission of steam on the other side of the same, is not dependent upon the momentum of the pistons and shaft, as thetwo rotating abutments are located upon opposite sides of the pistons.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of United States, is-

1. In a rotary engine in. which the steam or active agent is admitted thereto by means of apertures, the opening and .closing of which are accomplished through the agency ot' slide-valves, the casing A, having stationary abutments D, combined with the revolving pistons B, shaft B', and rotating abutments E, substantially as set forth.

2. The casin g A, having the induction and eduction ports g, and provided with the stationary abutments D, the valve-chest F, reversing and expansion valves G H, and revolving pistons B, having the rotating abutments E, combined in a rotary engine, sub.

stantially as set forth, and for the purposes specified.

3. In combination with the valve-chest F, the valve K, adapted as means whereby the communicating aperture .in the partition K', between the two partsof the said chest, may edclosed or opened, substantially as speci- 4. A rotary engine, having a double or centrally-divided piston, and apartition in the.

steam-chest with apertures therein, as described, which, when opened, admit steam to both sides of the said centrally-divided piston but which, when closed, and on the attachment ot' supply and delivery pipes, admit of the use of the machine uas'avrotary motor and a rotary pump, as herein specified.

5. In a rotary engine, the throttle-valve,

adapted, by means of the lever i, to be opened, as the reversing-valves are moved.

from a central to an extreme position, or one in which the pistons Bare caused to revolve in either a forward or a back-ward direction, substantially as described.

6. The shaft B', carrying the pistons B and rotary abutments E, the `casing A, having the induction and ,eductiou ports g,.andA stationary abutments D, the valve-chest F,. reverse-valves G, `and 4expansion valves H, the latter operated bymeans .of eccentrics.

and rods from the main `shaft B', all combined in a rotary engine, substantially as herein described. y

In testimony whereof `I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of May, A. D.

ABRAM C. SPEER. Witnesses:

L. G. RU'rHERFoB'D,

M. C. 'WHI'rE, W. H. HUBBARD, Jr.A 

